'Important' - Nigel Martyn urges Leeds to hand new contract to 28-year-old

Nigel Martyn has backed Leeds United to hand Ezgjan Alioski a new contract this season to reward him for his recent performances.

The Macedonian international's current deal runs out at the end of this season at Elland Road, bringing an end to his four-year spell.

Leeds have handed new long-term deals to a number of their players in the past year, and Martyn has backed the Whites to do the same with Alioski.

Martyn has claimed that the winger's infectious personality gives the rest of the squad a huge boost and that every squad needs players like him.

"Personally, I’d like to see him there, he is a little bit off the wall," he told TBR Football.

"I think the squad like that he is a little bit crazy and he does some funny things around the place – those characters are important. He deserves another contract.

"See how the season goes, for both parties. If he does play regularly, then both parties should sit down and say let’s carry on."

Marcelo Bielsa has kept Alioski around at Elland Road as his utility man on the bench, and that decision was well-and-truly justified in the win against Aston Villa on Friday.

Alioski stepped up for Leeds when he was needed with the defensive injury crisis at the club, and he did it to great effect, being a constant headache down the left.

The 28-year-old had a couple of shots on goal, but also made two clearances according to WhoScored, and was everywhere for the Whites at Villa Park.

If you asked any Leeds fan right now, they would most likely agree with Martyn - we would have to one of those, who can say no to Gjanni.

In other Leeds United news, Jermaine Beckford predicts Whites clash v Leicester City

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